1
as in to destroy
to destroy (as a building) completely by knocking down or breaking to pieces
developers demolished the old warehouse to make room for the new shopping mall
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to ruin
to bring to a complete end the physical soundness, existence, or usefulness of
most of the buildings in the town had been demolished in the bombing raid
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to shatter
to cause to break open or into pieces by or as if by an explosive
terrorists used a powerful pipe bomb to demolish the concrete wall around the compound
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of demolish
After the new medical center goes into service near Cottle Road and Santa Teresa Boulevard in south San Jose, Kaiser intends to demolish the existing hospital, which totals 250,000 square feet.
—
George Avalos, The Mercury News, 4 Feb. 2025
According to the El Cajon Boulevard Business Improvement Association, the restaurant was later demolished to make way for Interstate 805.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Feb. 2025
The roof and several walls of her modest home have been demolished, leaving Jahjouh with just one room covered with a makeshift roof.
—Tareq Al Hilou, CNN, 5 Feb. 2025
Here’s a sneak preview That new Publix, oft-delayed since plans first came to light in 2020, had to wait until the old store was demolished.
—Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 1 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for demolish 
George Avalos, The Mercury News, 4 Feb. 2025
According to the El Cajon Boulevard Business Improvement Association, the restaurant was later demolished to make way for Interstate 805.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Feb. 2025
The roof and several walls of her modest home have been demolished, leaving Jahjouh with just one room covered with a makeshift roof.
—Tareq Al Hilou, CNN, 5 Feb. 2025
Here’s a sneak preview That new Publix, oft-delayed since plans first came to light in 2020, had to wait until the old store was demolished.
—Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 1 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for demolish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for demolish
Verb
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In addition to Meester and Brody, Cameron Mathison, Anna Faris, Ricki Lake, Cary Elwes and Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag were among the stars who confirmed that their homes were also destroyed.—
Stephanie Wenger,
People.com,
8 Feb. 2025
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The storm destroyed every structure on the island, wiping out the concert stage, tiki bar, giant slide and food truck.—
Gabrielle Calise Tampa Bay Times (TNS),
arkansasonline.com,
8 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Ancient people weren't about to let these pests ruin their crops or their lives.—
Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi,
Discover Magazine,
14 Feb. 2025
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The film ends with Ross going full Red Hulk in the White House Rose Garden (oops), nearly ruining his legacy (Sterns’ real prize) and ultimately forcing him to admit his wrongdoing, give up his office, and head to The Raft to serve an undetermined amount of time in the floating prison.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
14 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Officers recovered 15 9 mm shell casings from a Jan. 28 afternoon skirmish involving four people in a store parking lot in the 8300 block of Roberts Road that sprayed bullets into a car, shattering the rear windshield and flattening two tires, police said.—
Dennis Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Feb. 2025
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In Mexico, a period of relative calm was shattered with the killing of five journalists as gangs and political groups clashed ahead of the June 2024 election.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
12 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The city gave Bally’s the green light to resume the demolition Jan. 10 after approving a new plan for razing the last vestiges of the Freedom Center.—
Robert Channick,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Feb. 2025
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Workers from across the federal government set off a legal counteroffensive against President Trump and Elon Musk on Tuesday, challenging the legality of efforts to raze their agencies, single them out publicly or push them out of their jobs.—
Mattathias Schwartz,
New York Times,
5 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Friends began to worry, and then were devastated by the news, KATV reported.—
Mitchell Willetts,
Kansas City Star,
6 Feb. 2025
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As the fires devastated the city, some of the first aid administered to Los Angeles was provided by chefs and restaurants.—
Stephanie Breijo,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2025
Verb
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These carnivorous crustaceans pack a powerful punch that can smash mollusk shells at speeds of up to 50 miles per hour and even break glass.—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
7 Feb. 2025
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France’s Ad Vitam has entered Netflix’s all-time top ten for most popular non-English movies on its platform one week after Culpa Tuya smashed records for Amazon.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
7 Feb. 2025
Verb
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There's little doubt about next week being a 'climate emergency' with extreme cold—perhaps historical—wrecking the central United States.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
13 Feb. 2025
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The powerful storm wrecked Tropicana Field, home to Major League Baseball’s Tampa Bay Rays, rendering the stadium unplayable for this season and possibly longer.—
Sammy Roth,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The Spartans jumped out to an early lead in the first quarter, but blew the game open in the second behind Blair’s playmaking.—
Nathan Canilao,
The Mercury News,
16 Feb. 2025
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Finer orders pizza, Kate G. puts on music, Paige (receptionist) throws open windows to let crazy pre-rain breeze blow through.—
George Saunders,
The Atlantic,
14 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near demolish
Cite this Entry
“Demolish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/demolish. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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